Screw-driver.



PATENTED NOV. 5, 1907.

L. B. HOPKINS. SCREW DRIVER.

APPLICATION TILED APR. 23.1906.

UNTTED STATES LAFAYETTE B. HOPKINS, OF NORTH LAWRENCE, KANSAS.

SCREW-DRIVER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 5, 1907.

Application filed April 23. 1906. Serial No. 313,274.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAFAYETTE B. HOPKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at North Lawrence, in the county of Douglas and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Screw-Driver, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to screw drivers.

The object of the invention is to provide a screw driver that shall be simple and substantial in construction and one wherein a double ended blade for screws of different sizes may be employed, together with a novel form of locking device for holding the blade in its proper position relative to the handle.

With the above and other objects in view as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction and combination of parts of a screw driver as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

in the-accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts,Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a screw driver constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective detail view of the blade. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail view showing more particularly the construction of the locking device for holding the blade in alinement with the handle.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the handle of a screw driver and 2 the shank which carries a double ended blade 3. The shank is slotted longitudinally from its outer end to a point adjacent to the root of the tang 4 and between the two members of the shank the blade is pivoted. In one transverse dimension the tang is reduced in size with respect to the shank to form shoulders 5 which are adapted firmly 'to abut the end surface of the ferrule 6 which is slotted to fit the tang so that the end surface of the ferrule presents shoulders for receiving the shoulders of the shank.

The blade 3 is pivoted at its center to the shank at 7, and adjacent to each outer end is a depression or slot 8, the seats being adapted to be brought into registering position with a slot 12 in one of the shank members 2, to receive the nose 9 of a thumb latch 10 and thus lock the blade against movement. This latch is mounted in a frame 11 secured to the base of the shank and at a point conveniently accessible to the thumb of the operator. The frame is attached to the blade by a screw 13, the head of which subserves a double function, namely that of holding the frame assembled with the blade, and also of retaining a compression spring 14 in place, the latter being disposed between the thumb piece 15 of the latch and the The depressions or slots 8 in the blade are equidistant from the pivotal point of the latter so that either end of the screw driver can be securely locked in place.

The improvements herein defined while simple in character will be found thoroughly efficient in use and will cooperate in the production of a novel and durable implement.

What is claimed A screw driver comprising a shank, a handle, a double ended blade centrally pivoted to the shank and having depressions equidistant from the pivot thereof, a thumb latch on the shank arranged adjacent to the handle and adapted to engage the depressions, a frame supporting the latch, a coiled spring for holding the latch in engagement with one or the other of the depressions, and a screw for attaching the frame to the shank, the head of the screw being projected within the coils of the spring to retain the latter in place.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LAFAYETTE B. HOPKINS.

Witnesses M. A. EDGAR, GEO. B. EDGAR. 

